Painter to present Virat Kohli his portrait at Eden

This artist has already presented his paintings to former India cricketers, Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar.

Virat Kohli would be leading the Indian Test team for the first time at the Eden Gardens

Kolkata, Sep 29 (IANS) Partha Das, a passionate painter who fancies his hand at sketching portraits of cricketers and musicians, wants to present India's Test captain Virat Kohli a painting of the mercurial batsman which he has drawn.

At the Eden Gardens on Thursday, the eve of India's second Test against New Zealand, he was seen putting final touches to the painting which shows skipper Kohli donning a white India cap and a wry smile on his face.

"I want to present this painting to Virat. That's why I am here. I spoke to Biswarup da (Dey, treasurer, Cricket Association of Bengal) and he said that I can gift it to him on the fourth day of the match. I have previously drawn pictures of Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar."

Besides cricket, Das says, he has sketched pictures of various musicians.

"I have painted portraits of Bismillah Khan among others. I do this out of passion and for those who I love like Virat," Das, a school teacher by profession, added.